Authorities: Mother paid unlicensed artist to tattoo ‘full sleeve’ on 14-year-old son

Written by: A. Smith

Published January 28, 2026 @ 8:15 AM ET

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. – A Bibb County mother and an unlicensed tattoo artist were arrested after investigators say the woman paid for her 14-year-old son to receive a full tattoo sleeve, despite Georgia law prohibiting tattoos on minors.

According to an incident report from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were contacted on Dec. 29 by the boy’s father, who reported that his son returned from spending time with his mother with a large tattoo covering much of his arm. The father told authorities he found the tattoo inappropriate and was concerned about how it was obtained.

Under Georgia law, individuals under 18 are not allowed to receive tattoos, even with parental consent.

Investigators later met with the alleged tattoo artist, identified as Walter Nesbitt, at a local barbershop. Nesbitt initially denied tattooing a minor but later admitted he performed the tattoo at the request of the boy’s mother, according to the report.

Authorities said Nesbitt was not licensed to perform tattoos and did not have written parental consent, which would not have been valid in this case due to the child’s age.

Nesbitt was arrested and charged with illegally tattooing a person under the age of 18. The boy’s mother was also arrested and charged with being a party to the unlawful tattooing of a minor. The mother’s name has not been publicly released.

The child was not charged. The case remains under investigation.